Selection for 8-week body weight in normal and dwarf chickens under different water/feed environments

Normal and dwarf chickens fed either regular (.4%) or high (1.6%) salt diets were selected for four generations for high 8-wk body weight. Selection gains in body weight were greater in dwarf than in normal genotypes. Selections differentials, gains, and heritabilities were greater in lines selected under the .4% salt environment. When tested females were fed .4% salt diets, normal females from lines selected after being fed 1.6% salt diets had less fat than those from lines selected after being fed .4% salt diets. However, no differences were observed in dwarf females from the two selection environments.